Virginia Woolf Miscellany, Issue 20, Spring 1983

inia Woo /\isce an Number20 Spring1983 TO THE READERS: be published by Nebraska. At least in quantity, the Lupines appear An Editorial Comment on Woolfians and Lupines to be winning the war of words. But one should not think of it as a battle; rather, as sharing insights and views as Woolf enters her sec The Virginia Woolf Miscellany is exactly that, a collection of short notices about Woolf. At the same time I thought that it might ond century, more vital than ever. be useful, and possibly stimulating, to have a mini-theme for this is Let me conclude by mentioning a few other relevant publica sue, on the considerable question of Virginia Woolf and politics. I tions that have caught my attention in recent months. I was de wrote to several people, asking them to contribute. Their responses lighted that Selma Meyerowitz was willing to write for this issue, show a remarkable diversity. Perhaps the most provocative comes and I should like to draw attention to her excellent critical study of from Quentin Bell who offers a firm disagreement with Jane Mar Leonard Woolf (Twayne Publishers, 1982). Other books have come cus's well-known and controversial interpretation of Woolf's poli out in recent months, and I mention them on the off and unlikely tics. Marcus's own contribution here is an interesting review, but chance the readers of the Miscellany haven't run across them. Per should she so wish, of course she can write in response to Bell in a haps of particular interest to Americans is the account of the wo subsequent issue. men in that formidable American family, the Pearsall Smiths, in I've been thinking myself about the question of Virginia Woolf's Remarkable Relations (Universe, 1982) by Barbara Strachey (an ob politics. I certainly do not have any easy answers. My position, per viously appropriate name and relation: Lytton's and Adrian Steph haps characteristically, is to reside somewhere in the middle but en's niece). Two delightful odd books are, first, cartoons and a leaning towards the Woolfians, to approach the question with mock journal, with a foreword by Michael Holroyd, Kenneth Ma something of the irritating judiciousness of the historian. I do not hood The Secret Sketchbook of a Bloomsbury Lady (St. Martin's mean to be reductionist and to ascribe too much to the origins of Press, 1982) and, rather self-indulgent on the part of the author, but the individuals involved in this debate, but on the whole those who nevertheless with vivid glimpses of Duncan Grant towards the very are Woolfians-which I am using here to indicate those who tend to end of his life, and interesting (but are they totally reliable?) stories see Woolf's politics as less radical and less central to her being-are of his past, in Paul Roche With Duncan Grant in Southern Turkey male, and frequently English. On the whole, those who are Lu (Notre Dame Press, 1982). Perhaps the most unusual publication is pines-who see Woolf as more to the left and argue that these poli Ellen Hawkes and Peter Manso The Shadow of the Moth: A Novel tical questions are more central to her being-are female, and fre of Espionage with Virginia Woolf. Here we have an extremely ac quently American. This point was made vivid for me personally tive Woolf, on the trail of spies and along the way attacking male when I was arguing with Jane Marcus at the Woolf meeting at hegemony. Is it a Woolf who really might have existed? Quentin Brown last February. She said to me scornfully-but I believe in a Bell makes clear how much in a practical political way she really moderately friendly manner-you sound just like an Englishman. did, but whether she is actually the character rather similar to the She meant it as an insult, but as part of our argument I took it as American woman reporter in the book is another question. The Bel something of a compliment. For I believe that context, as Brenda gium woman who begins it all turns out to be murdered, rather Silver has mentioned to me, is a crucial word in this debate. Ameri than having committed suicide. In a rather portentous epilogue, cans may not be sufficiently aware of how important the context, the authors seem to be suggesting a parallel between her and Woolf. Whatever the validity of this comparison, both Woolfians background, nuances, class ambiguities, are for understanding a different culture, and a person within that culture. On the other and Lupines alike will, I believe, enjoy The Shadow of the Moth. Peter Stansky hand, it is possible that the English, and perhaps particular English men, might not dwell on the full implications-the fury they con Stanford University tain-of statements made by Woolf. Perhaps because I am a histor ian of England, although an American, I am more sympathetic to the view that sees Woolf as comparatively less political. As Quen tin Bell makes clear in his essay here, Woolf was extremely active politically and was a socialist. But more, perhaps, in England than in other countries, that does not make one a marxist. And in Lupine FURTHER NOTICES TO THE READERS essays-penetrating and interesting as they are-it is perhaps too The next regular issue of VWM will be edited - perhaps we easy to lose sight of what I believe to be the central fact of her be should say mediated! - by J. J. Wilson at Sonoma State University, ing: her commitment to her art. That is not necessarily questioned Rohnert Park, Ca. 94928. Notices and articles (no longer than 800 in those essays, but in my own opinion it is too easy for the empha words and the shorter the better) should be submitted on or before ses to go wrong. The debate is valuable. Jane Marcus, in her power September 15. Your cash donations to keep VWM coming are, of ful, if at times hectoring, prose has added a great deal in quality course, welcome all year round at the above address; if everyone and quantity to Woolf/Lupine studies. on our mailing list were to send in two dollars, we would be solvent Her most recent publication is her very interesting essay "Liber - and might even be able to pay the student volunteers who mail ty, Sorority, Misogyny" in Carolyn C. Heilbrun & Margaret R. Hig out the Miscellany so faithfully each Fall and Spring ... onnet eds. The Representation of Women in Fiction Selected Pa For those of you who sent in $5.00 or more donations for Laura pers from the English Institute, 1981 (The Johns Hopkins University Moss Cottlieb's elegant and thorough cumulative INDEX TO Press, 1983). There is also her essay "Storming the Toolshed" in VWM, 1973 -1982, thank you for your support and you will be re Signs 1982 vol. 7, no. 3. In 1981 she edited New Feminist Essays on ceiving your copy as soon as it is printed up. Orders are still wel Virginia Woolf (University of Nebraska Press) and this coming fall come; checks should be made out, as always, to the VWM Founda a second volume of essays, Virginia Woolf: A Feminist Slant also to tion, and, as always, are tax deductible. VIRGINIA WOOLF, HER POLITICS In Three Guineas she toys with the idea that women might com pete with their brothers in the accumulation of capital. But this When the Conservatives were routed in 1905, Vanessa and Vir ginia Stephen went to Trafalgar Square and rejoiced. The long would mean that the daughters of the rich would liberate them selves by exploiting the daughters of the poor. Being a socialist I faces of George and Gerald Duckworth may have added to their joy, but it was what one might have expected; they were always think that she appreciated the dilemma and that it is for this reason left of center, Virginia being a little further left than her sister. In that she argues that too much money is bad for the soul; she pro the same way she took more interest in the Working Men's College posed that women should bind themselves to "poverty, chastity, than did the other three Stephens or Clive Bell, with whose political derision, and freedom from unreal loyalties."• Whatever else it work I think she sympathised. Leonard Woolf, when she married may be this is not a marxist solution. him, was becoming a socialist and they were both interested in the Finally, for what it may be worth, I offer my own personal testi Women's Cooperative Movement; she attended the Fabian Confer mony. I knew Virginia quite well enough to know that she was not ence in 1913, just before her worst breakdown, and when she re a marxist. covered, joined the Society. She was secretary of her local branch It is sad that so talented a person as Professor Marcus should be of the Women's Cooperative Guild. Later she became secretary of so silly. But there is worse, for confusion breeds confusion. The the Rodmell Labour Party. Professor orders the Virginia of her imagination to the barricades. Leonard said that Virginia was "the least political animal that The real Virginia refuses to march. She is punished, reduced to be has lived" but was anxious to destroy the legend of the "frail inva ing "a sniper in the ranks;" she is accused of antisemitism, found lidish lady living in an Ivory Tower;" he points out that she worked guilty of cowardice; worse still she is cowed by the enemy; when at "the grass roots of the Labour Party."' Despite the contradiction, she published "A Society," Desmond Maccarthy "showed his there is some truth in both statements.

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